Death Hooves

As he took his place at the head of the group he noticed that Cristop was jumping in his saddle anxious to get into action. He was the only man in the whole company never to seen action as he had just arrived 2 days ago. Once Major Obduro had arrived he assigned them their objectives. Listen up this is not a routine hack and slash okay this needs to be done with precision. He said in a very commanding voice. The lieutenant noticed he had polished his boots and was wearing his medals. The ground is uneven so if anyone tries to make a full charge theyll most likely be killed by the landscape. Our job is to be mounted infantry not cavalry in this case. That means no lances. We ride then fight on foot. But sir why cant the infantry platoons just fight if we will be fighting on foot? asked Tomansi nervously recoiling slightly as the colonels hard and unforgiving gaze hit him like a Leman Russ shell. Because Lieutenant Infantry cant reposition like we can. If we undertake a full charge the horses will trip and fall but if we just run them they should be able to pick their way through. Now if there are no more interruptions I would like to continue. Cristop youll be in the center with me, Tomansi, and Malowskis left and right respectively, Angloes wait in reserve and reinforce any group thats faltering or being pushed back I trust your judgment so you will make your own decisions and Jenkins you can reinforce the left flank and try and move behind the enemy to trap them. This is about momentum okay, we cannot be pushed back, we must keep them fleeing and panicking so they cant think. But thinking and shooting are two different things so keep your heads down. They lined up in formation the Colonel was almost tranquil as he sat astride his chestnut steed. It snorted but never pulled away. It was almost eager. For the Emperor! he cried throwing is fist forward and the charge began. The horses were urged on at a slow run. The men having slung lasguns over their shoulders and across their backs had both hands free to guide the horse which was fortunate for the terrain was rocky and dangerous with two riders having been crushed as their horse tripped. Large rock formations rose overhead as the men urged their horses faster tempting fate every second. After a few hundred meters the first sight of the enemy was witnessed. They were horrible deformed and mutilated. They bore horns from their torsos and heads with some having had their skin turned red and scaly. Emperor protect, muttered the captain as he walked his horse forward with the rest of his squad a hundred meters behind the main line. He made the sign of the Aquila which was reciprocated by every man in his squad. Lieutenant Cristop attempted to make the sign of the Aquila but thought better as he needed both hands free to steer the horse. The enemy were unused to and unfamiliar with a horse and so were unsure how to act many fled attempting to regroup, others remained and fired at the riders from all angles felling a hundred of the fourteen hundred men in a single volley. Dismount and form lines! roared the Major throwing himself to the ground and rising to his feet moments later dusting himself down. The men responded forming lines in the center while the flanks formed staggered lines firing in a staggered yet ordered formation to disrupt the enemy and push them back. The major saw the young Lieutenant race his men forwards and take a few casualties but they disappeared from view behind a rocky outcrop to surround the enemy. The Major smiled and then drew his sabre pointing it skywards readying a volley. The lieutenant drew his sabre and pointed it forwards urging his men to do the same as they rode around behind the enemy according to the plan. The ground was flatter here enough to gallop the horses safely. The men raced around behind the enemy and the young lieutenant saw the savages retreat right towards them and he heard the sounds of a lasgun volley being fired. He let out a yell and

raised his sword an action which was mirrored by his squad. He waited for the right moment. Waiting until the enemy retreated to the flats were they could be dispatched with cold steel. The first rebels began to appear on the flat racing towards their camp which lay not far away however the way was blocked by two hundred horsemen. The first rebels to see the horsemen on the flat terrain halted their retreat and took aim at them but the riders were too far away to be fired at accurately with the ancient rifles the rebels bore. Jenkins slowly lowered his sword and kicked his steed bellowing a war cry and ordering a charge. He felt alive as the dusty air stung at his face and neck and the foul stench that the planet execrated filled his lungs like the first breath on a summers day though it was foul it didnt seem as bad now. He felt at home. The soldiers around him all had sabers drawn or bayonets attached to lasguns which they fired as they closed with the enemy though the accuracy of such a gun when at full gallop was horrible and the shots that hit caused almost no damage to the enemy.